The home side desperately needed a win as they stood third from bottom in Counties League 2 Surrey and were facing the risk of relegation. They came out fighting and dominated all phases of play in the first half, winning the set scrums, the lineouts and putting the Counts defence under pressure with quick and accurate offloading of the ball. They took just five minutes to open the scoring with an unconverted try.
Two minutes later, Walcountians took the lead. Full-back Hal Mogridge fielded an attempted clearance and, alongside fly-half Matt Hodgson, released blockbusting winger Olly Sanders, who set up a ruck from which the ball was shipped to scrum-half Ben French for a converted try.

The Counts lead did not last long. Purley John Fisher regained the lead with a try from their right-winger five minutes later, and they dominated the rest of the first half as Walcountians conceded a string of penalties. Further tries in the 23rd, 34th and 45th minutes extended their lead to 22points.

Walcountians’ fightback started just before half-time when Hal Mogridge joined the threequarter line and spectacularly rounded the Purley John Fisher defence for a much-needed try. Mogridge struck again in the opening minute of the second half when he intercepted a misplaced pass in the Walcountians 22 and left the stunned Purley John Fisher defence in his wake for his second try.

Purley John Fisher did not cease in their efforts as they needed the points to get clear of the relegation zone, and extended their lead with a try in the fifth minute of the second half. But they faced a much more competitive Walcountians side, with lock George Orji and flanker Sam Charnock competing fiercely for possession and giving the visitors a greater share of the ball. Walcountians secured a bonus point in the 12th minute when centre Andy Togbolah snapped up loose possession near the halfway mark and broke clear to score his ninth try of the season.

The last 20 minutes of the match saw both sides run in two more tries apiece. For Walcountians’ winger Omarie Brown scored his eighth try of the season in the 35th minute to put he icing on a threequarter move, and Hal Mogridge sealed his hat-trick and ninth try of the season in the final minute as he joined the threequarters and spectacularly wrong-footed Purley John Fisher defenders to go over.

Despite the defeat, Walcountians picked up valuable bonus points which have enabled them to move up to third place in Counties League 2 Surrey, something that seemed a pipe dream in the autumn. Next Saturday, Walcountians play their final match when they take on Worth Old Boys at Clock House, Woodmansterne, kicking off at 3pm. The match will be preceded by a lunch organised by club President, Steve Simmonds, and will be attended by many former players.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Brown, Togbolah, Beaubrun, Sanders, Hodgson, French (B), Bell, Blackmore, Anderson, Henderson, Orji, French (A), Charnock, Bateman.

Subs (used):- Beeson, Fletcher-Rogers; (not used) Stoner.